How to Choose Your Jewelry
Common Gems
Precious gems were acquired through trade with distant countries. Pearls are the most common gemstone used in jewelry throughout history and were imported from the East,
though eventually freshwater pearls were harvested in Western Europe and the Americas. After pearls, the most common medieval gemstones were: rubies, sapphires, emeralds,
and less frequently diamonds and turquoises. All came from the East: rubies were brought from India and Ceylon, sapphires from Ceylon, Arabia, and Persia, emeralds from
Egypt, diamonds from India and Central Africa, and turquoises from Persia and Tibet. Europe also produced a variety of gems and semi-precious stones in the later Middle
Ages. The source for amethysts was Germany and Russia. Rock crystal came from Germany, Switzerland and France, opals and garnets, from Eastern Europe. Amber from Northern Europe.
Precious Metals
Gold was used for Western European women's jewelry almost exclusively. Viking jewelry was occassionally made with silver, as it was mined nearby. Copper was used for tools,
cookware and coin, not for decorative jewerly.